Device for accompanying and supporting a continuous cigarette rod in the cutting area

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for accompanying and supporting a cigarette rod during the cutting of cigarette elements therefrom, which comprises a rotatable support mounted adjacent a continuously moving cigarette rod, a plurality of cradles pivotally mounted to the rotatable support, means for driving the support to move the cradles in a closed loop path, means mounting the cradles for radial movement with respect to the axis of the rotary support, means for driving the cradles parallel to the continuous cigarette rod in a portion of said closed loop path adjacent to said continuous cigarette rod, and means for maintaining the orientation of the cradles parallel to the continuous cigarette rod as the support is driven.

United States Patent [191 Gianese Nov. 20, 1973 DEVICE FOR ACCOMPANYING AND SUPPORTING A CONTINUOUS CIGARETTE ROD IN THE CUTTING AREA [75] Inventor:

[73] Assignee: AMF Incorporated, White Plains,

221 Filed: Aug. 30, 1972 21 Appl. No.: 284,993

Goffredo Gianese, Bologna, Italy [30] Foreign Application Priority Data Sept. 2, 1971 Italy 12897 A'/71 [52] US. Cl. 83/310 [51] Int. Cl. A24c 5/28 [58] Field of Search 83/310 [5 6] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,479,913 11/1969 Goemann et al. 83/310 3,521,513 7/1970 Gomann et a1. 73/310 Primary Examiner-J. M. Meister Attorney-George W. Price et al.

[57] ABSTRACT Apparatus for accompanying and supporting a cigarette rod during the cutting of cigarette elements therefrom, which comprises a rotatable support mounted adjacent a continuously moving cigarette rod, a plurality of cradles pivotally mounted to the totatable support, means for driving the support to move the cradles in a closed loop path, means mounting the cradles for radial movement with respect to the axis of the rotary support, means for driving the cradles parallel to the continuous cigarette rod in a portion of said closed loop path adjacent to said continuous cigarette rod, and means for maintaining the orientation of the cradles parallel to the continuous cigarette rod as the support is driven.

10 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures DEVICE FOR ACCOMPANYING AND SUPPORTING A CONTINUOUS CIGARETTE ROD IN THE CUTTING AREA BACKGROUND This invention relates to cigarette making apparatus and more particularly to the portion of the apparatus which accompanies and supports the formed cigarette rod while a cutting blade severs a cigarette sized element therefrom.

It is currently known in the art to provide apparatus for accompanying and supporting the cigarette rod while it is guided along a rectilinear path in the cutting area, which apparatus includes a disk, a plurality of cradles rotatably mounted on the disk and crank means for maintaining the attitude of the cradles along an axis parallel to the cigarette rod as the disk rotates. This arrangement is desirable since the entire length of the cradles can engage the cigarette rod simultaneously and the rod, which is traveling at some meters per second, is not disturbed by an askew cradle. In other units it is known to mount a plurality of cradles on a rotary disk for radial movement and drive the cradles in a rectilinear path when they are parallel to and adjacent the cigarette rod. This is desirable because the cradle can travel with the rod further during the cutting operation.

However, heretofore it has not been possible to utilize both of these movements in one unit due to the complexities of the linkages involved.

SUMMARY It is, accordingly, an object of this invention to provide an improved device for accompanying and supporting the rod while it is being cut.

It is a more specific object of this invention to provide apparatus including a support having a plurality of cigarette supporting cradles mounted thereon wherein the support is rotated to bring the cradles sequentially into cigarette rod supporting position wherein the cradles are mounted with respect to the support so that they can maintain an orientation parallel to the cigarette rod as they are rotated and are driven parallel to the cigarette rod while they are in their cigarette supporting position.

In accordance with these and other objects, apparatus according to the invention comprises: a rotatable support mounted adjacent a continuously moving cigarette rod; a plurality of cradles pivotally mounted to the rotatable support; means for driving the support to move the cradles in a closed loop path; means mounting the cradles for radial movement with respect to the axis of the rotary support; means for driving the cradles parallel to the continuous cigarette rod in a portion of said closed loop path adjacent to said continuous cigarette rod; and means for maintaining the orientation of the cradles parallel to the continuous cigarette rod as the support is driven.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a front view of an apparatus according to the invention with parts broken away and in section.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1, taken on line 2--2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged partial cross-section of the apparatus, taken on lines 3-3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the apparatus, taken along line v4,-4 of FIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT With reference to the drawings, a preferred embodiment of the invention comprises a plurality of cigarette supporting cradles I mounted on a rotary support comprising a disk 2. A disk 3 is mounted for rotation around an axis parallel to and spaced from the axis of disk 2. A plurality of rods 4 are pivotally mounted at the ends thereof to crank-pins 102 and .103 mounted in the disks 2 and 3 respectively and connect the two disks for rotation in unison.

Each cradle l is pivotally mounted to the rotary support by a cantilevered pin 5 which forms one part of an articulated parallelogram crank system. The other parts of the crank system are a crankpin 8 pivotally mounted to disk 3 in parallel offset relationship to pin 5 and a crank arm connecting element 6 mounted between the pins 5 and 8.

Each of the pins 5 is rotatably mounted in a sleeve 105 which includes a turret 205 formed integrally therewith. A plurality of boxes 305 corresponding to the pins 5 are formed integrally with disk 2 and provided with louvers 405 in which sleeve 105 can slide radially, the radial movement of the pin being guided by the interaction of turret 205 and boxes 305.

Each of the connecting elements 6 is fixedly mounted at one end thereof to the inner end of a respective pin 5. The other end of the connecting elements 6 is provided with a forked end 106. A block 7 is received in each of the forked ends 106 and rotatably receives a crankpin 8.

With this arrangement, the assemblages of cradle 1, pin 5, slide 105, turret 205 and connecting element 6 can slide radially with respect to crankpins 8 and blocks 7 via relative movement of the forked end 106 of connecting element 6 and block 7.

A cam 9 having a rectilinear section 109 parallel to the path of the continuous cigarette rod B is mounted adjacent to and coaxial with disk 2. A cam follower 10 is rotatably mounted on each of the pins 5 and is urged into engagement with the earn 9 by a spring 11 mounted between each turret 205 and box 305. This spring urges the pin 5 and thus the cam follower l0 radially inwardly. At cam section 109 the action of the spring 11 will urge cam follower l0 and thus pin 5 and cradle 1 to travel a rectilinear path.

In order for the cam follower 10, pin 5 and cradle 1 to follow the rectilinear path defined by cam section 109 under the urging of spring 1 1, they must be able to move radially with respect to the axis of disk 2. This radial movement is provided for by the sliding connection between the forked ends 106 of the connecting elements 6, and the blocks 7 set forth herein above.

The disks 2 and 3 are mounted with respect to the rod B such that the cradle during its rectilinear travel accompanies the cigarette rod and supports it. During this portion of the travel of the cradle, the blade of the cutting unit, passing through slots 10], follows and cuts the cigarette rod.

The location of the blocks 7 ean be adjusted radially in relation to the axis of disk 3. For this purpose, the pins 8 engaged in the blocks 7 are formed integrally with slides 12 which are slidably mounted in corresponding radial guides 13 provided in the disk 3. An adjusting screw 14 engages each slide 12 for adjusting the radial position of pin 8 in relation to the geometrical axis of rotation of disk 2 of said traversing support.

The disks 2 and 3 are mounted for rotation on parallel shafts. Disk 3 includes a ring gear and is driven by an actuating pinion 16 which meshes with ring gear 15. Disk 2 is driven from disk 3 through the three connecting rods 4. The connecting rods 4 remain parallel to each other while disks 2 and 3 rotate around their respective geometrical axes of rotation due to the pivotal connections 102 and 103.

The connecting elements 6, pivotally mounted to disk 3 and fixedly mounted to the inner end of the pins 5 operate as a crank arm to maintain the attitude of the pins, and thus the cradles, constant as the disks 2 and 3 rotate.

Variants and changes can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. in particular, connecting rods 4 could be omitted, in which case the disks 2 or 3 will have to be rotated in synchronous and timed relationship with other means, for instance with a unitary drive ratio gear coupling.

In addition, connecting elements 6 could accomplish the function of connecting rods 4. This could be done providing closed slots in place of open forks 106, in which case it would be more clearly evident that connecting elements 6 are to be considered as connecting rods of variable length operating dynamically in addition to kinematically in a closed-circuit traversing system.

To check the adjusted position of blocks 7 and of associated crankpins 8 of variable length connecting rods 6, a reference tooth 12 (see FIG. 4) of slide 12 moves near a graduated rule G fastened to disk 3 and can be observed through an opening F made in the casing, or box S, enclosing the whole device.

While this invention has been described in connection with the handling of cigarettes, it should be understood that any similar rod-like article can be handled by the method and apparatus disclosed.

Having now fully set forth both structure and operation of preferred embodiments of the concept underlying the present invention, it may be that various other embodiments as well as certain variations and modifications of the embodiments herein shown and described will occur to those skilled in the art upon becoming familiar with said underlying concept. All such embodiments, variations, and modifications as incorporate the spirit of the invention and depend upon its underlying concept are consequently to be considered as within the scope of the claims appended herebelow, unless the claims by their language expressly state otherwise.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for accompanying and supporting a cigarette rod during the cutting of cigarette elements therefrom, which comprises:

a rotatable support mounted adjacent a continuously moving cigarette rod,

a cradle pivotally mounted to the rotatable support,

means for driving the support to move the cradle in a closed loop path,

means mounting the cradle for radial movement with respect to the axis of the rotary support,

means for driving the cradle parallel to the continuous cigarette rod in a portion of said closed loop path adjacent to said continuous cigarette rod, and

means for maintaining the orientation of the cradle parallel to the continuous cigarette rod as the support is driven.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

the rotary support includes a disk mounted for rotation about its axis.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cradle is pivotally mounted to the rotary support by a pin disposed parallel to the axis of the rotary support and the means for driving the cradle parallel to the continuous cigarette rod includes:

a cam mounted in spaced relationship to the rotary support, said cam including a flat portion parallel to the continuous cigarette rod,

a cam follower mounted on the pin in spaced relationship with the cam, and

mean biasing the cam follower into engagement with the cam.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the means biasing the cam follower into engagement with the cam includes:

a spring receiving member mounted on the pin,

a spring receiving member mounted on the rotary support in spaced relationship with the corresponding member on the pin, and

a spring mounted between the two spring receiving members.

5. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the means for maintaining the orientation of the cradle parallel to the continuous cigarette rod, includes:

a pin mounting the cradle for its pivotal movement with respect to the rotary support,

a crank arm mounted at one end thereof to the pin,

an operating disk mounted in parallel spaced relationship with the rotary support, and

a crankpin rotatably mounted in the operating disk and connected to the other end of the crank arm.

6. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cradle is pivotally mounted to the rotary support by a pin disposed parallel to the axis of the rotary support and the means mounting the cradle for radial movement with respect to the rotary support includes:

a radially disposed guide means affixed to the rotary support,

means mounting the pin for movement in said guide means, and

means for modifying the means for maintaining the orientation of the cradle parallel to the continuous cigarette rod as the pin moves radially.

7. Apparatus for accompanying and supporting a cigarette rod during the cutting of cigarette elements therefrom, which comprises:

a disk mounted adjacent a continuously moving cigarette rod,

a plurality of cradles pivotally mounted to the disk,

means for rotating the disk to move the cradles in a closed loop path,

means mounting the cradles for radial movement with respect to the axis of the disk,

means for driving the cradles parallel to the continuous cigarette rod in a portion of said closed loop path adjacent to said continuous cigarette rod, and

crank means for maintaining the orientation of the cradles parallel to the continuous cigarette rod as the support is driven.

8. Apparatus according to claim 7, wherein each of the cradles is pivotally mounted to the disk by a pin disposed parallel to the axis of the disk and the means for driving the cradles parallel to the continuous cigarette rod includes:

a cam mounted in spaced relationship to the rotary support, said cam including a flat portion parallel to the continuous cigarette rod,

a cam follower mounted on the pin in spaced relationship with the cam, and

means biasing the cam follower into engagement with the cam.

9. Apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the crank means for maintaining the orientation of the cradles parallel to the continuous cigarette rod, includes:

a pin mounting each of the cradles for its pivotal movement with respect to the disk,

a crank arm mounted at one end thereof to each pin,

an operating disk mounted in parallel spaced relationship with the rotary support, and

a plurality of crankpins, each rotatably mounted in the operating disk and each connected to the other end of a crank arm.

10. Apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the means for mounting the cradles for radial movement with respect to the rotary support includes:

radially disposed guide means affixed to the disk,

means mounting each of the pins for movement in one of said guide means, and

means for adjusting the length of the crank arm connected to the pin as the latter moves radially in said guide means. 

1. Apparatus for accompanying and supporting a cigarette rod during the cutting of cigarette elements therefrom, which comprises: a rotatable support mounted adjacent a continuously moving cigarette rod, a cradle pivotally mounted to the rotatable support, means for driving the support to move the cradle in a closed loop path, means mounting the cradle for radial movement with respect to the axis of the rotary support, means for driving the cradle parallel to the continuous cigarette rod in a portion of said closed loop path adjacent to said continuous cigarette rod, and means for maintaining the orientation of the cradle parallel to the continuous cigarette rod as the support is driven.
 2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: the rotary support includes a disk mounted for rotation about its axis.
 3. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cradle is pivotally mounted to the rotary support by a pin disposed parallel to the axis of the rotary support and the means for driving the cradle parallel to the continuous cigarette rod includes: a cam mounted in spaced relationship to the rotary support, said cam including a flat portion parallel to the continuous cigarette rod, a cam follower mounted on the pin in spaced relationship with the cam, and mean biasing the cam follower into engagement with the cam.
 4. Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the means biasing the cam follower into engagement with the cam includes: a spring receiving member mounted on the pin, a spring receiving member mounted on the rotary support in spaced relationship with the corresponding member on the pin, and a spring mounted between the two spring receiving members.
 5. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the means for maintaining the orientatioN of the cradle parallel to the continuous cigarette rod, includes: a pin mounting the cradle for its pivotal movement with respect to the rotary support, a crank arm mounted at one end thereof to the pin, an operating disk mounted in parallel spaced relationship with the rotary support, and a crankpin rotatably mounted in the operating disk and connected to the other end of the crank arm.
 6. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cradle is pivotally mounted to the rotary support by a pin disposed parallel to the axis of the rotary support and the means mounting the cradle for radial movement with respect to the rotary support includes: a radially disposed guide means affixed to the rotary support, means mounting the pin for movement in said guide means, and means for modifying the means for maintaining the orientation of the cradle parallel to the continuous cigarette rod as the pin moves radially.
 7. Apparatus for accompanying and supporting a cigarette rod during the cutting of cigarette elements therefrom, which comprises: a disk mounted adjacent a continuously moving cigarette rod, a plurality of cradles pivotally mounted to the disk, means for rotating the disk to move the cradles in a closed loop path, means mounting the cradles for radial movement with respect to the axis of the disk, means for driving the cradles parallel to the continuous cigarette rod in a portion of said closed loop path adjacent to said continuous cigarette rod, and crank means for maintaining the orientation of the cradles parallel to the continuous cigarette rod as the support is driven.
 8. Apparatus according to claim 7, wherein each of the cradles is pivotally mounted to the disk by a pin disposed parallel to the axis of the disk and the means for driving the cradles parallel to the continuous cigarette rod includes: a cam mounted in spaced relationship to the rotary support, said cam including a flat portion parallel to the continuous cigarette rod, a cam follower mounted on the pin in spaced relationship with the cam, and means biasing the cam follower into engagement with the cam.
 9. Apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the crank means for maintaining the orientation of the cradles parallel to the continuous cigarette rod, includes: a pin mounting each of the cradles for its pivotal movement with respect to the disk, a crank arm mounted at one end thereof to each pin, an operating disk mounted in parallel spaced relationship with the rotary support, and a plurality of crankpins, each rotatably mounted in the operating disk and each connected to the other end of a crank arm.
 10. Apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the means for mounting the cradles for radial movement with respect to the rotary support includes: radially disposed guide means affixed to the disk, means mounting each of the pins for movement in one of said guide means, and means for adjusting the length of the crank arm connected to the pin as the latter moves radially in said guide means. 